The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1887-10-20
PROHIBITION.

ed upon in Lincoln county very shortly,
and in pursuance of an intention men
toned in THE ADVOCATE few weeks
since we have commenced the publica-
ton of series of papers relative to the
question. Our columns are open to
those from either side who wish to adj
vance argument. The paper this week
is from a writer well-known throughout
South Dakota and one who tells us he
will disclose his identity at any time
he is called upon to debate the question
Of "Bible prohibition in public. He
is thoroughly temperate and does not
touch liquor in any form. The gentle
man says:
PROHIBITION FROM A BIBLE STAND
POINT.
EDITOR ADvOCATE:-Let us exam
inc this prohibition doctrine and see if
we can determine what is it's character,
what it's aims both professed and ac-
tual and the means it proposes to EN-
ploy to secure its purposes. Let us
look calmly at the clear-cut, hard out
line of facts which constitute it's ele-
ments, anxious to discover the real
truth and fearless to speak that truth
when so discovered regardless of it's
consonance or disonance with the po-
tent cOnventiOnalities of society.
In considering this movement the
first item that meets us is the fact that
it is essentially a church movement.
The advocates of prohibition boldly
proclaim it as such from every plat
form and in every document they issue.
1t is one of the cardinal planks in the
st. John national prohibition platform
of 1884. Mrs. Balch recently stated
from the platform at Huron that the
prohibition work was the especial
work of the church of Christ, and that
it specially behooved Gods people to
know and to follow the teaching of
Gods holy word upon this subject.
Taking this position as established we
are next led to inquire, what is the
Church? We believe no orthodox par
ty will object to one defining it as col
lective body holding that the bible is a
revelation of Gods will respecting man,
and constitutes perfect rule for faith
and actions, and to secure conformity
of our actions to it's precepts is the OBJ
ject for which the church labors. Here
then in this bible we have the author
ity and foundation by which, and upon
which this prohibition movement is es-
tablished.
If the pretentions of this party are
we'll founded and honest, when we hold
the mirrorup to this bible the reflection
will be prohibition; but if the analysis
shows no prohibition in all its lines,
what faith in, or esteem for, its claims,
it's purposes or its methods can be long
er entertained by any man Of intelli-
gence orself respect? Reader, you have
bible. 1t may be that you have re-
ceived it through the practice Of giving
them away, which the "News" man
says has been followed from Sinai's cen
tury to this. just turn to Gen. xix
Jacob blesseth his sons" and at verse
IL, while blessing Judah, through whom
Christ was promised, and through
whom he afterwards did descend, Jacob
says: "His eyes shall be red with wine,
ETC."
1t seems from this that wine that
would make a mans eyes red was con-
sidered by Jacob as blessing good
enough for the ancestry of Christ.
Christ speaking his parallels of the
vineyards, his reputation as wine-bib-
er among those with whom he associ-
ated, and the marvellous method he en-
ployed to produce wine that dearth
of it might be avoided, shows that the
blessing Of Jacob was confirmed of God
and was transmitted to Judah's lineage
for at least forty -one successive genera
tions. This is what might be called "a
good starter" toward bible authority
for prohibition. Now let us turn to
Deuteronomy xiv. At verse Is the
Jew, after being declared holy people
unto the Lord, is directed to expend
the proceeds Of tenth part of every
thing he owned sfor oxen, for sheep, for
wine or for strong drink etc. He is
further directed to give it to his house
hold too. Now, Mrs. President w. c.
I. T., this is what the Lord spake to
Moses, and there is no denying it, but
it is not altogether as good prohibition
talk as it might be is it?
In Judges, TX, verse IL, we read that
wine cheereth God and man. The
bible declares solomon to have been the
wisest of all men, not even excepting
Gov. st. John, and solomon paid with
wine fourth part Of the labor reqnir-
ed to build Gods temple, See I'd Chroll-
icles II, verse lO No prohibition laws
in force In Judea In Solomon's time.
In Psalms, civ, W Isad that God makes
wine. Can ! proli IT eoa stsnt-